Adjustable open end ratchet wrench



y 1955 D. M. GOODNOW 2,707,413

ADJUSTABLE OPEN END RATCHET WRENCH iled May 25, 1954 /la lm ""lw" 1 FIG.I

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INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,707,413 ADJUSTABLE OPEN END RATCHET WRENCH Daniel M. Gootlnow, Baltimore, Md. Application May 25, 1954, Serial No. 432,275 3 Claims. (CI. 81-61) This invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to those of the open end type having a single handle for its manipulation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved open end wrench with means for antomatically locking its jaws upon the work to which the jaws are applied and having means whereby said jaws may be readily moved apart to release them from contact with the work as desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved open end wrench having one jaw fixed and the remaining jaw slidably attached to said fixed jaw so it may be quickly adjusted against the work to be held therein then automatically locking its jaws upon the work to which said jaws are applied and havingmeans for releasing said sliding jaw so the jaws may be readily moved apart to release them from the work.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved open end wrench adaptable to be used as a strong and durable clamp having automatically operated tightening and releasing means for holding work between its jaws.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention and its objects reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which in conjunction with the following description outline a particular form of the invention by way of example, while the claims emphasize the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a single handle open end wrench, embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the internal construction of the wrench.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown in the drawings the wrench includes a body pivotally connected to the bifurcated arms 11 and 12 of the handle 13 by a pin 14, the body 10 comprises a pair of jaws, the fixed jaw 15 and movable jaw 16, the jaw 15 is formed integral with said body 10, a shank 17 extending from movable jaw 16 and slidably mounted in a guideway 18 in said body 10, a rack 19 along the inner edge of said shank 17, a gear 20 in mesh with said rack 19, turnably mounted on the pin 14 secured in said body 10 and bifurcated arms 11 and 12, on which pin 14 the handle 13 is fulcrumed, and a locking pawl 21 mounted in between the bifurcated arms 11 and 12 on a shaft 22 for engaging the teeth of said gear 20 and locking said handle 13 to said gear 20. The sides 23 of the shank 17 are rounded preferably, and are slidably fitted to the curved sides 24 of the guideway 18. The gripping edges 25 and 26 respectively, of the jaws 15 and 16 extend longitudinally of the wrench, while the shank 17 of the jaw 16 and the shank guideway 18 extend at approximately right angles to said gripping edges of said jaws. The body 10 is formed with a slot 27 to receive the gear 20 in mesh with the rack 19. In the handle 13 is mounted the locking pawl 21 for locking said handle to the gear 20 so that said gear will be turned upon swinging said handle on its fulcrum pin 14, whereby said gear, in mesh with rack 19 may move the jaw 16 towards the jaw 15 and keep pressure on the jaws as long as the handle 13 is pulled on. To release the jaw 2,707,413 Patented May 3, 1955 16, push on the pawl 21 at point 28 moving it forwards toward the body 10, withdrawing the tooth 29 from engagement with the teeth in gear 20, allowing the gear to revolve and drop jaw 16 to the bottom of its open travel. When the handle 13 is moved until the jaws 15 and 16 tightly grip the work held in the jaws, the tooth 29 of the pawl 21 holds it in engagement with a tooth in the gear 20 and keeps the jaws tightly locked against the work until the handle 13 is moved in the opposite direction and the pawl tooth 29 withdrawn from the gear 20 to release the jaws from gripping the work. A spring 32 attached at one end to the handle 13 and at the other end to the locking pawl 21 normally keeps the tooth 29 in engagement with the gear 20, and spring 33 attached to said handle 13 normally holds the body 10 and jaws 15 and 16 in an angular position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings and operates the body 10, allowing the wrench jaws to remain tightened on the work until the handle is moved to a new operating position, giving practically the same efifect as a ratchet wrench.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings of described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a wrench of the class described comprising a body formed with a relatively fixed jaw, a handle pivotally connected to said body, a guideway in said fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably mounted in said guideway, means for closing said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw, means for releasing said movable jaw, said movable jaw having a rack gear thereon, and gear means for activating said rack gear and movable jaw, and a ratchet means mounted in said handle to move said gear and movable jaw at predetermined intervals.

2. In a wrench of the class described comprising a body formed with a relatively fixed jaw, a handle pivotally connected to said body, a guideway in said fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably mounted in said guideway, means for closing said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw, means for releasing said movable jaw, said movable jaw having a rack gear thereon, and gear means for activating said rack gear and movable jaw, a ratchet means mounted in said handle to move said gear and movable jaw at predetermined intervals, and means on said body for engaging the ratchet to keep it in contact with the gear and hold the jaws together in gripping position.

3. In a wrench of the class described comprising a body formed with a relatively fixed jaw, a handle pivotally connected to said body, a guideway in said fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably mounted in said guideway means for closing said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw, means for releasing said movable jaw, said movable jaw having a rack gear thereon, and gear means for activating said rack gear and movable jaw, a ratchet means mounted in said handle to move said gear and movable jaw at predetermined intervals, means on said body for engaging the ratchet to keep it in contact with the gear and hold the jaws together in gripping position, and springs mounted in said handle for tensioning the body against said ratchet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,779 Hansen Oct. 25, 1910 1,101,381 Anderson et al June 23, 1914 1,188,801 McEwen June 27, 1916 1,286,506 Beery Dec. 3, 1918 1,379,536 Davies May 24, 1921 1,428,805 Reynolds et al Sept. 12, 1922 

